FCPS High School Poverty and Enrollment

[Anonymous]

The #1 factor in real estate value is the school system. This has been true for many, many years. My dad sold real estate and his advice was to purchase the worst house in a "good" school district over the best house in a "poor" school district. He said the former would increase in value.

People make their choices based on this. That is a fact. The Board of Supervisors knows this, too. If you want to hurt property values in Fairfax, just do a county wide boundary adjustment and watch what happens.

There is NO way to balance the demographics in Fairfax county. People need to face that the demographics in Fairfax are changing. And, I am not talking about race--I am talking about income.

When 30% of students in FCPS is on FARMS, you cannot expect that there will not be some schools that hurt more than others. How do you intend to make Langley or McLean 30% FARMS.

The ONE thing that might help is reducing the number of IB schools. It is clearly not working in many of them.

[Anonymous]

I suggest we stop importing poverty. Buy hey, that's me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They already get housing subsidies and food subsidies to live here.

"They" do not get housing or food subsidies to live "here." If you do not live in military housing, you get a housing allowance (BAH) that varies based on location. Yes, the D.C. area is more expensive than most areas in the country and has a high BAH as a result, but it does not amount to a subsidy. It is closer to a cost of living adjustment if anything. All personnel get "BAS" (basic allowance for subsistence) which does not vary by geographic location, but does vary based on rank.

BAH and BAS are allowances that are part of total compensation.

[Anonymous]

The largest portion of affordable housing is in Reston and Alexandria.

Time to increase the McLean/Great Falls/Vienna affordable housing by 1000%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The largest portion of affordable housing is in Reston and Alexandria.

Time to increase the McLean/Great Falls/Vienna affordable housing by 1000%

At a minimum, they should have much more affordable housing in the new Tysons Corner - they want to make it a mini-city after all. Then divide that affordable housing up between Langley and McLean (particularly Langley) - those are certainly reasonable bus rides. I mean, Langley will survive at 10-12% F/R lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

Schools/School districts provide special treatment to a lot of different groups. Not sure what the big deal here is.

That proves too much. It’s not a good reason to continue a policy that has weakened schools like Mount Vernon all over the state.

This policy does not weaken MV.

Those families with high schoolers living on post are higher ranking that are required to live on base due to their jobs.

If they did not have the ability to pupil place their high school students to other fcps schools, they would do one of these things, none of which would result in their military kids attending MV.

1) Turn down the assignment and retire.
2) Send the military parent alone, while the rest of the family remains at the current duty station while the kids are in high school or the active duty parent gets a new assignment, whicbever comes first.
3) move the entire family, but put the high school student in provate or religious school, probably Bishop OConnel or Bishop Ireton.
4) Homeschool
5) Leave the high schooler with friends or grandparents, so they can finish out school where they are or at a better school.

Every military family knows people who have done one of the things on this list to prevent their high schoolers from moving to a failing high school when the parent is required to live on a base that is zoned for the failing school.

Allowing those military kids stationed to Ft. BElelvoir to transfer hight schools means those military kids move into fcps and guarantees fcps receives their coveted military impact aide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They already get housing subsidies and food subsidies to live here.

"They" do not get housing or food subsidies to live "here." If you do not live in military housing, you get a housing allowance (BAH) that varies based on location. Yes, the D.C. area is more expensive than most areas in the country and has a high BAH as a result, but it does not amount to a subsidy. It is closer to a cost of living adjustment if anything. All personnel get "BAS" (basic allowance for subsistence) which does not vary by geographic location, but does vary based on rank.

BAH and BAS are allowances that are part of total compensation.

Plus, federal employees get locality salary increases depending on where they live.

A GS 14 in the DC metro area makes far more than the GS 14 living in leavenworth Kansas, just saying.

I hardly think that complaining about military getting BAH by the other poster carries any water given how many feds are in this district receiving locality pay bumps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. It seems to me that FCPS does fine by military families but there’s still a legitimate discussion to be had as to whether military families living at Ft. Belvoir should effectively have pupil placement options not available to other non-military families.

Of course the military kids should have this ability.

My goodness.

+1
I am against special options given to one group of kids vs another (AAP vs Gen Ed). However, when it comes to military families, I think they should definitely get first priority pupil placements - over everyone else. They have earned it. No one else should get special choices, just military families and their kids.

You’re against special options given to one group of kids vs. another, unless they are military kids?

You are being facetious, right?

No, I am not. If any group of people have earned special treatment, it's military families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They already get housing subsidies and food subsidies to live here.

As they should. They should also be paid FAR more than they currently are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

Schools/School districts provide special treatment to a lot of different groups. Not sure what the big deal here is.

That proves too much. It’s not a good reason to continue a policy that has weakened schools like Mount Vernon all over the state.

This policy does not weaken MV.

Those families with high schoolers living on post are higher ranking that are required to live on base due to their jobs.

If they did not have the ability to pupil place their high school students to other fcps schools, they would do one of these things, none of which would result in their military kids attending MV.

1) Turn down the assignment and retire.
2) Send the military parent alone, while the rest of the family remains at the current duty station while the kids are in high school or the active duty parent gets a new assignment, whicbever comes first.
3) move the entire family, but put the high school student in provate or religious school, probably Bishop OConnel or Bishop Ireton.
4) Homeschool
5) Leave the high schooler with friends or grandparents, so they can finish out school where they are or at a better school.

Every military family knows people who have done one of the things on this list to prevent their high schoolers from moving to a failing high school when the parent is required to live on a base that is zoned for the failing school.

Allowing those military kids stationed to Ft. BElelvoir to transfer hight schools means those military kids move into fcps and guarantees fcps receives their coveted military impact aide.

If this is true, and it may well not be since it sounds quite speculative on your part, it would still be better to force them to reveal their true colors by engaging in such shenanigans than to continue giving them undeserved special treatment when it comes to picking preferred schools and disrespecting others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suggest we stop importing poverty. Buy hey, that's me.

I completely agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

Schools/School districts provide special treatment to a lot of different groups. Not sure what the big deal here is.

That proves too much. It’s not a good reason to continue a policy that has weakened schools like Mount Vernon all over the state.

This policy does not weaken MV.

Those families with high schoolers living on post are higher ranking that are required to live on base due to their jobs.

If they did not have the ability to pupil place their high school students to other fcps schools, they would do one of these things, none of which would result in their military kids attending MV.

1) Turn down the assignment and retire.
2) Send the military parent alone, while the rest of the family remains at the current duty station while the kids are in high school or the active duty parent gets a new assignment, whicbever comes first.
3) move the entire family, but put the high school student in provate or religious school, probably Bishop OConnel or Bishop Ireton.
4) Homeschool
5) Leave the high schooler with friends or grandparents, so they can finish out school where they are or at a better school.

Every military family knows people who have done one of the things on this list to prevent their high schoolers from moving to a failing high school when the parent is required to live on a base that is zoned for the failing school.

Allowing those military kids stationed to Ft. BElelvoir to transfer hight schools means those military kids move into fcps and guarantees fcps receives their coveted military impact aide.

If this is true, and it may well not be since it sounds quite speculative on your part, it would still be better to force them to reveal their true colors by engaging in such shenanigans than to continue giving them undeserved special treatment when it comes to picking preferred schools and disrespecting others.

DP. The bolded is exactly what has been happening for years, ever since AAP kids were given a choice of attending their base schools or an AAP center. Gen Ed kids get no such choice. Talk about *undeserved special treatment*. How do you feel about that?

Military families sacrifice so much, all in order to serve their country. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and letting them choose which school their kids should attend seems like the bare minimum we could offer. These are the deserving. Not some random AAP kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.